Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept

Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker explores the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. It challenges prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why, demonstrating how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Luker argues that assumptions embedded in family planning programs, medical practice, and social research often reflect unexamined values rather than empirical reality, subtly reinforcing gendered inequities. By reconnecting contraception to its intimate ties with sexuality and situating abortion within the everyday calculus of women's and men's lives, Taking Chances reframes reproductive behavior as a socially constructed process rather than an individual anomaly.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker investigates the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. Beginning with clinical encounters that challenged prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why, Luker questions the rules of plausibility that long framed abortion as a rare, traumatic, and socially stigmatized act. Through careful sociological analysis, she demonstrates how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women—women who did not fit conventional stereotypes of the non-contracepting—repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Their experiences suggest that prevailing narratives about abortion and contraception have obscured the complexity of reproductive decision-making and underestimated the interplay of values, sexuality, and social norms.

At its core, the book is a study of how risk-taking in matters of sex and reproduction reflects broader cultural beliefs and institutional practices. Luker argues that assumptions embedded in family planning programs, medical practice, and social research often reflect unexamined values rather than empirical reality, subtly reinforcing gendered inequities. By reconnecting contraception to its intimate ties with sexuality and by situating abortion within the everyday calculus of women's and men's lives, Taking Chances reframes reproductive behavior as a socially constructed process rather than an individual anomaly. This work speaks to sociologists, feminists, and policymakers alike, offering a critical and nuanced account of how good intentions and accepted truths can inadvertently create oppressive realities for women navigating the politics of reproduction.

This title is part of a series of books that explore the social and cultural dimensions of reproductive health and rights. Other titles in the series include "The Politics of Reproduction: Women, Children, and the State" by Nancy Scheper-Hughes, "The Reproduction of Mothering: Psychoanalysis and the Sociology of Gender" by Carolyn S. Dyer, and "The Social Construction of Gender: An Introduction" by Judith Lorber.

The book begins with a series of clinical encounters that challenge prevailing assumptions about who seeks abortion and why. Luker recounts the case of a young woman who presented to a clinic with an unwanted pregnancy and was initially denied an abortion. The woman's story highlights the social and cultural barriers that women face when seeking abortion, including stigma, shame, and financial constraints. Luker argues that these barriers are often reinforced by the rules of plausibility that have long framed abortion as a rare, traumatic, and socially stigmatized act.

Through careful sociological analysis, Luker demonstrates how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women—women who did not fit conventional stereotypes of the non-contracepting—repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Their experiences suggest that prevailing narratives about abortion and contraception have obscured the complexity of reproductive decision-making and underestimated the interplay of values, sexuality, and social norms.

One of the key themes of the book is the role of risk-taking in reproductive decision-making. Luker argues that risk-taking is a fundamental aspect of human behavior and that it is often shaped by social and cultural norms. She suggests that women who choose to have abortions are often making a rational decision based on their circumstances and values, rather than a decision that is driven by fear or coercion.

Luker also explores the role of family planning programs in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that family planning programs often prioritize contraception over abortion, and that this prioritization can have negative consequences for women. For example, family planning programs may provide limited access to contraception, or may require women to undergo invasive procedures or tests before receiving contraception. This can make it difficult for women to access contraception, and can lead to unintended pregnancies.

Luker also examines the role of medical practice in shaping reproductive decision-making. She argues that medical practice can be biased against women, and that this bias can lead to women being denied access to abortion or other reproductive services. For example, medical providers may be reluctant to provide abortion services to women who are unmarried or who have low incomes.

In addition to these themes, the book also explores the role of social norms in shaping reproductive decision-making. Luker argues that social norms can be powerful forces that shape how people think and behave. She suggests that social norms that promote gender inequality, such as the idea that women should be responsible for childbearing, can lead to women being denied access to abortion or other reproductive services.

One of the strengths of the book is its use of sociological analysis. Luker uses a variety of sociological methods, including interviews, surveys, and ethnography, to gather data about reproductive decision-making. She also uses a variety of theoretical frameworks, including feminist theory, critical theory, and social constructionism, to analyze her data.

One of the weaknesses of the book is its lack of attention to the experiences of women of color. While Luker does include some discussion of the experiences of women of color, she does not provide a comprehensive analysis of these experiences. This is a significant omission, as women of color face unique barriers to reproductive health and rights, and their experiences are often overlooked in the literature.

Despite this weakness, Taking Chances is a valuable contribution to the literature on reproductive health and rights. It offers a critical and nuanced account of how risk-taking in matters of sex and reproduction reflects broader cultural beliefs and institutional practices. It also offers a critical analysis of the role of family planning programs, medical practice, and social norms in shaping reproductive decision-making.

In conclusion, Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept by Kristin Luker is a valuable book that explores the social, cultural, and personal dynamics that shape contraceptive behavior and the decision to seek abortion. Through careful sociological analysis, Luker demonstrates how middle-class, seemingly well-adjusted women—women who did not fit conventional stereotypes of the non-contracepting—repeatedly confronted unintended pregnancies and chose abortion as a solution. Her work speaks to sociologists, feminists, and policymakers alike, offering a critical and nuanced account of how good intentions and accepted truths can inadvertently create oppressive realities for women navigating the politics of reproduction.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520360624